Summoning Millions of Gods Daily, My Strength Equals Theirs Combined Chapter 647 -647-A Slow-Acting Poison Called Crossbridge

Aurek possessed a hypothesis.

It was possible that the supreme entity traveled to the Star Sea universe specifically to imprison the enigmatic existence locked within the Dark Abyss, fearing that any beings from her original greater universe might discover it. This explained the creation of the Pantheon—a deliberate effort to expunge all evidence of her presence and deter others from investigating the matter.

Admittedly, this remained mere speculation.

Too many inconsistencies persisted, as if the narrative were missing critical segments of a larger puzzle. For instance, what drove her to construct the Twelvefold Aetherian Sanctuary? Furthermore, why did it fall into his possession as though governed by some cruel trick of destiny?

The Twelvefold Aetherian Sanctuary harbored a world-shaking secret, akin to an unopened, mystical chest. Its significance appeared to rival the entity confined within the Dark Abyss. To ensure this secret stayed buried, the Stellar Saint-Emperor had sacrificed his own Threads of Fate, relinquishing his memories in the process. Yet, the question remained: for what purpose?

"All of you, depart!" Aurek commanded, his sleeves waving with intensity. "Leave the starry realm of all races, or retreat into the Pantheon and remain there."

The Adjudicator, the Silver Gentleman, and their companions bowed low before fading into the vast reaches of the Star Sea. Having fought that fragment of the oak branch, they were severely wounded and required extensive recovery time. Since the Pantheon had already initiated the hunt for that oak branch fragment, their specific duties were concluded. Within Aurek’s personal domain, they lacked any standing beyond that of commoners.

...

Aurek journeyed personally to the Sacredwood Settlement situated in the Styx Sector, accompanied by the Crusader Goddess and the Eternal Blazing Sun.

"Maintain your watch here," Aurek directed Veynars, before addressing Apollo. "Oversee the starry realm of all races. If you detect any irregular activity, you hold the authority to mobilize legions and crush the threat instantly. No prior authorization is necessary."

"Any entity imprisoned by that supreme existence—whatever dwells in the Dark Abyss—is surely no less powerful than that oak branch. It might even match the supreme existence herself. We must keep a vigilant eye on it. Leave no room for carelessness."

"As you command!" Apollo acknowledged the order and promptly left.

Once all arrangements were settled, Aurek withdrew into the Star-realm Gate. This current form was merely a mirrored incarnation, anchored by the fortune of the Divine Court. Should Aurek’s true essence exert force within the Chaos Singularity, this projection would instantly cease to exist. Even so, he refrained from utilizing this incarnation’s strength recklessly, remaining prepared against that mysterious branch.

...

Boom! Rumble! High in the northern reaches of the Endless Starlight Isle, Merxis and War Bear spearheaded an assault comprising two billion Supreme Sage-rank warriors against the Endless Starlight Shield, while rhythmic war drums echoed across the firmament. Five hundred million Doomsday Warriors unleashed waves of chaotic destruction, battering the surrounding stellar nebula until the void crumbled layer by layer.

Yet, every sector of the Endless Starlight Isle seemed protected by shimmering energy pulses. The onslaught caused zero damage, as if their warriors were punching into soft cotton. While the two billion Supreme Sage-rank troops continued their relentless pressure, a reinforcement of twenty billion additional Supreme Sage-rank warriors materialized in the rear.

Suggwoth refrained from deploying these reinforcements immediately. Instead, he kept them in reserve, gradually tightening the military pressure like a closing vice to provoke the isle into action. Observing the situation behind the shield, Suggwoth waved his hand. "Deploy another two billion!" Overthunder accepted the command and departed.

As the fresh legion joined the ranks, the offensive power reached an overwhelming crescendo. Harry questioned in confusion, "If they refuse to emerge, our assaults are effectively aimed at empty space."

Alvin chuckled, shaking his head. "One cannot judge the efficacy of our actions solely by the immediate results. We investigated the Endless Starlight Shield previously. In the past, the isle used it to hold off the Primordial River Cosmos invasion. It lasted hundreds of thousands of years, but at an astronomical cost. This proves that activating the barrier drains vast resources. It cannot hold indefinitely."

"Moreover, the leaders of Endless Starlight Isle are likely weighing whether they possess the strength to destroy the Divine Court permanently. Eventually, they will be forced to respond—like testing the temperature of the water. Gradually advance the hundred-billion-strong army toward the front. Once the deterrence becomes unbearable, they will be forced to act. As for the additional two hundred billion Sage-rank troops, I suggest keeping them hidden as our final trump card."

Suggwoth, Tina, and Harry directed their attention to Alvin. Suggwoth queried, "What is your reasoning?"

"It hinges on their decision," Alvin replied, his eyes glinting with strategy. "If they decide on an all-out clash, we meet them with full force. But if they only engage in probing maneuvers, we can offer them a hollow victory to bolster their confidence."

Hearing this, the others grasped the plan, faint smiles appearing on their faces. In reality, the Supreme Majesty had only ordered Suggwoth to expose the true strength of Endless Starlight Isle. Breaking the shield was not the priority, as the barrier remained an exceptionally vexing obstacle.

...

At the fringe of the starfield, four hundred thousand quasi-Eternal Sage-ranks lingered within the Sea of Chaos, their mental senses locked upon the Crossbridge forces. Like a pack of predators lying in wait, even more—over a hundred million Supreme Sage-ranks gathered behind them, their palms slick with nervous tension. It remained inconceivable to them, even now, that a single organization could command the terrifying numbers of a hundred billion Supreme Sage-ranks.

Without the protection of the Endless Starlight Shield, and had forces like Celestian not reacted with such speed to repel the initial invading vanguard, the outcome would have likely been a direct, devastating collision with this massive tide of troops.

"The Crossbridge Divine Court has deployed several more billion Sage-rank warriors," one observer muttered, his brow twitching. Was the existence of Supreme Sage-ranks merely treated as fodder? Dispatching them by the billions like scattered seeds was unprecedented.

"The Endless Starlight Shield is now fortified to a degree billions of times greater than its initial activation. Even Eternal Sage-ranks should abandon any hope of shattering it," one quasi-Eternal Sage-rank boasted coldly, glancing at the Crossbridge host with disdain. Dawn Ripper, a quasi-Eternal Sage-rank from the Oblivion Sanctum, turned to his colleague. "Send a messenger to verify the status of the debates in the war council hall. Every moment of delay favors the enemy. Crossbridge’s power behaves like a slow-acting poison; even a single day’s delay could produce even more legions. We must expedite our decision. This cannot wait."

The subordinate nodded and vanished into the Star-realm Gate. "This is baffling! Why does the size of Aurek's legions grow every single day?" an ancient quasi-Eternal Sage-rank from Beaststar Sylvan grumbled. The others murmured in agreement. "It is a truly unsolvable riddle. Can that rumored secret of Eternity actually facilitate such a thing?"

The older quasi-Eternal Sage-ranks had witnessed legitimate Eternal existences in times past. While their power was absolute and despair-inducing, it had always been limited to individual prowess. The concept of continuously manifesting endless legions of such strength was beyond the known laws of the universe. Otherwise, the cosmos would have been completely overrun by Supreme Sage-ranks long ago. "It is simply unimaginable," another added. "What force could possibly produce nearly a hundred billion Supreme Sage-ranks in the span of merely ten-odd days?" At that, the gathered experts fell into a profound, suffocating silence.